Process and device for operating a synchronous winder

ABSTRACT

A process and a device for operating a synchronous winding machine, includes an assembly of shafts for driving packages, shafts for driving fliers and a device for pre-feeding yarns. The process comprises controlling with an electronic device a driving in synchronism of the pre-feeding device and the drive shafts of packages, as well as drive shafts for the fliers of packages, with adjustment or variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns by wobulation or electronic scrambling/jamming or by any other signal of variation of the angle of crossing. The invention is most particularly applicable to the field of the textile industry, in particular winding machines for yarns and particularly synchronous winding machines.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the textile industry, in particular machines for winding yarns and especially synchronous winders and has for its object a process for operating a winder. The invention also has for its object a device for practicing this process.

[0002] At present, the operation of synchronous winders is carried out by means of one or two drive motors acting, either in the first case, on the package shafts and for driving the fliers and on the drive of the pre-feed device, or, in the second case, on the one hand on the shafts of the packages and for driving the fliers and, on the other hand, on the pre-feed device.

[0003] The motor or motors used are connected to the corresponding shafts by means of mechanical transmission elements such as assemblies of pulleys and notched belts, or else by gearing.

[0004] Generally, when the drive of the shafts for the packages and fliers is effected by a specific motor, the drive of the pre-feed device is carried out with the interposition of a device for wobulation or mechanical scrambling/jamming. Such a wobulation device is adapted to carry out a rough winding avoiding the formation of a strip which would be undesirable during unwinding the packages.

[0005] However, these known mechanical devices of this type have the drawback of being limited as to the possibilities of variation of the speed of movement that they can give to the fliers, such that a formation of strips cannot be completely avoided.

[0006] Moreover, because of the multiple passes necessary between the pulleys and the transmission belts or the numerous gears to be interposed between the motors and the shafts of the packages and for driving the fliers, the size of the assembly for operating the synchronous winding machines at present is relatively great. Moreover, simply because of the number of intermediate elements, the maintenance of the machine thus constituted is more complicated.

[0007] The present invention has for its object to overcome these drawbacks by providing a process for operating a synchronous winding machine permitting controlling a synchronism drive of the device for pre-feeding and for driving the packages and fliers.

[0008] To this end, the process according to the invention is characterized in that it consists in controlling by means of an electronic device a driving in synchronism of the pre-feed device and the shafts of the packages, as well as the drive shaft of the fliers of packages, with adjustment, or variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns by wobulation or electronic scrambling/jamming or by any other signal of variation of the angle of the crossing.

[0009] The invention also has for its object a device for practicing this process, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by at least two independent drive motors, respectively, on the one hand, for the shafts of the packages and of the pre-feed device and, on the other hand, shafts for driving the fliers, the control of these motors being assured by means of an electronic device.

[0010] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0011]FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of the principle of two possible embodiments of the device for practicing the operating process according to the invention, and

[0012]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a control panel provided with the device according to the invention.

[0013]FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show, by way of example, an operating device for a synchronous winding machine constituted by an assembly of package shafts 1, shafts 2 for driving fliers 3 and by a device 4 for pre-feeding yarns 5.

[0014] According to the invention, the process for operating this winding machine consists in controlling, by means of an electronic device 6, a driving in synchronism of the pre-feed device 4 and the shafts 1 for the packages, as well as the shafts 2 for driving the fliers 3 of the packages, with adjustment or variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns 5 by wobulation or electronic scrambling/jamming or by any other signal of variation of the angle of crossing.

[0015] This process is preferably carried out by the use of an operating device which is essentially constituted by at least two independent drive motors 7 and 8, respectively, on the one hand, for the shafts 1 of the packages and for the device 4 for pre-feeding and, on the other hand, the shafts 2 for driving the fliers 3, the control of these motors 7 and 8 being ensured by means of the electronic device 6.

[0016] The electronic device 6 is preferably constituted by a computer assembly programmable by means of a control table 9 with a graphic terminal or tactile screen, this computer assembly being connected to electronic inverters 7′ and 8′ connected to the motors 7 and 8 and acting on the regime of these latter, continuously, as a function of the control signals emitted by the computer assembly 6. Thus, it is possible to drive simultaneously and in synchronism the shafts of the packages 1 and the pre-feed device 4 of the yarns 5, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the drive shafts 2 of the fliers 3, these shafts 2 being subjected continuously to variable speeds, so as to carry out a continuous modification of the angle of crossing of the yarns 5, during their winding on the packages. The continuous variation of speed of the shafts 2 is due to a wobulation or electronic scrambling/jamming with the feed of the motor 8 by means of the inverter 8′.

[0017] Because of the continuous variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns, obtained thanks to the use of the electronic inverter 8′, under the surveillance of the electronic device 6, it is possible to carry out a tighter winding of the yarns permitting an increase in the density of the packages. As a result, for a same volume of packages, the lengths of yarns is substantially greater, such that the cost of transportation and storage is correspondingly reduced.

[0018]FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows a modification of embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, in which the operating device is constituted by three separate motors 10 to 12 connected respectively to the shaft 1 of the packages of the device, shaft 4 for pre-feeding the yarns 5, and shafts 2 for driving the fliers 3, these motors 10 to 12 being each supplied from a corresponding electronic inverter 10′ to 12′ and controlled by the electronic circuit 6.

[0019] Such an embodiment permits a miniaturization of the drive motors 10 to 12, as well as a simplification of their mechanical means by connection to the shafts 1 and 2 and to the device 4, such that they can be housed in a relatively compact manner in a control panel of relatively small volume.

[0020] Of course, in this embodiment, the wobulation of the drive motor 12 for the shafts 2 of the fliers 3 is also carried out such that a winding without risk of the formation of ribbons can be obtained.

[0021] According to one characteristic of the invention, the motors 11 for driving the pre-feed device 4, and 12 for driving the shafts 2 of the fliers 3, are each provided with a respective encoder 11″ and 12″ for controlling their respective speed of rotation, these encoders being connected moreover to the electronic control circuit 6. Thus, the electronic circuit 6 receives simultaneously information as to the speed of movement of the yarn 5 to be wound, which speed can be deduced from the speed of rotation of the motor 10 controlled by the corresponding inverter 11′, as well as an indication of the curve of movement of each flier 3, which can be deduced from the speed of rotation of the motor 12 and the curve of the drive cam of said flier 3. As a result, the circuit 6 can at any moment intervene as to the speed of movement of the fliers 3 by emission of a wobulation or scrambling/jamming signal or any other signal of the corresponding variation of angle of crossing, toward the electronic inverter 12′ associated with the motor 12, whose speed of rotation is controlled, moreover by the encoder 12″. Such a provision of encoders 11″ and 12″ permits further improving the precision of synchronization of the speeds obtained with the inverters 10′ and 12′ alone.

[0022] Moreover, the electronic circuit 6 permanently manages the speed of rotation of the motor 10, by means of the electronic inverter 10′, this speed of rotation being predetermined by programming by means of the control panel 9. Thus, it suffices to integrate into the electronic circuit 6 by means of the control table 9 all the data relative to the packages to be formed, so that said circuit 6, as a function of a given speed of the motor for driving the shafts 1 of the packages, automatically regulates the angle of crossing of the yarn on these packages, whilst synchronizing the speed of the pre-feed device 4.

[0023]FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows schematically a control panel bringing together the assembly of the operating device according to the invention.

[0024] According to another characteristic of the invention, the pre-feed device 4 for the yarns 5 is preferably subdivided into a number of sub-devices 4′ for pre-feeding, equal in number to the stages of the synchronous winding machine, these sub-devices being connected by a common mechanical drive to the corresponding drive motor 11. In the embodiment illustrated, three sub-devices 4′ for pre-feeding are provided and each is assigned to a stage of the synchronous winding machine, such that the layers of yarns to be distributed by each sub-device 4′ for pre-feeding are of a width substantially less than in the case of a single pre-feed device whose layer of yarns is subdivided in the direction of the different stages to be fed by means of simple return pulleys.

[0025] It is also possible, according to one modification of embodiment of the invention (not shown in the accompanying drawings), to provide a specific drive motor for each pre-feed sub-device 4′.

[0026] Similarly, there can be provided a specific motor per stage, for each line of shafts of packages and drive shafts for the fliers. Thus, it is possible to provide a winding machine whose stages are asynchronous with each other and synchronous stage-wise.

[0027] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the motors 10 to 12 are respectively connected, by means of simple mechanical transmission such as pulleys and belts or gearing, to the corresponding shafts 1, sub-devices 4 and shaft 2. As a result, the corresponding mechanical mounting can be carried out in a compact manner such that the volume of the assembly of a control panel thus constituted can be substantially reduced relative to existing panels of this type.

[0028] According to another characteristic of the invention, the packages are mounted on a gripping device 13 controlled by the electronic device 6 and carrying out an application of said packages against the corresponding shafts 1 by means of a pressure cylinder 14, and their diameter is measured by means of a movement detector 15 connected to the electronic circuit 6. Thus, the electronic circuit 6 continuously receives information relative to the diameter of the package and can regulate the bearing pressure of the package on the shaft 1 as a function of said diameter and thereby control particularly the firmness of the package.

[0029] According to a modified embodiment of the invention, the gripping device 13 can be provided in place of the movement detector 15 or as a complement to this detector 15, with a encoder 16 to count the turns, connected to the electronic circuit 6. Such a encoder 16 permits, alone or in combination with the detector 15, measuring the diameter of the package, such that the electronic circuit 6 can regulate in an identical manner the bearing pressure of the package on the shaft 1. In this latter case, the diameter of the package is measured by taking into account the number of turns of winding of the yarn.

[0030] Of course, the pressure cylinder 14 of the gripping device 3 can also be directly operated by the electronic circuit 6 by simple taking into account of the data relative to the yarn, without requiring a detector 15 and/or a encoder 16.

[0031] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to carry out operation of a synchronous winding machine permitting a continuous variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns and a perfect synchronization between the winding and the pre-feed, such that the packages obtained have a density substantially greater than those known until now, and that for a same given volume, the lengths of wound yarns are substantially greater.

[0032] Moreover, because of the improvement obtained in the winding of the yarns, ribbons are avoided and the corresponding risks during unwinding are also avoided.

[0033] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the construction of various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention. 

1. Process of operating a synchronous winding machine, comprising an assembly of shafts for driving packages, shafts for driving fliers and a pre-feed device for yarns, characterized in that it consists in controlling by an electronic device a synchronous drive of the pre-feed device and of the shafts for driving packages of the packages, as well as the shafts for driving fliers of packages, with adjustment, or variation of the angle of crossing of the yarns by wobulation or electronic scrambling/jamming or by any other signal for the variation of angle of crossing.
 2. Device for practicing the process according to claim 1, comprising an assembly of shafts for driving packages, shafts for driving fliers and a device for pre-feed yarns, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by at least two independent driving motors, respectively, on the one hand shafts for driving packages and of the pre-feed device and, on the other hand, shafts for driving fliers, the control of these motors being ensured by means of an electronic device.
 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic device is constituted by a computer assembly programmable by means of a control panel with a graphic terminal or tactile screen, this computer assembly being connected to electronic inverters connected to the motors and acting on the regime of these latter, continuously, as a function of the control signals emitted by the computer assembly.
 4. Device for practicing the process according to claim 1, comprising an assembly of shafts for driving packages, of shafts for driving fliers and a device for pre-feeding of yarns, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by three separate motors connected respectively to the shafts for driving packages and to the devices for pre-feeding yarns and to the shafts for driving the fliers, these motors being each supplied from a corresponding electronic inverter and controlled by the electronic circuit.
 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the motors for driving the pre-feed device and for driving the shafts of the fliers are each provided with a respective encoder for controlling their respective speed of rotation, these encoders being connected moreover to the electronic control circuit.
 6. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the device for pre-feeding yarns is subdivided into a number of sub-devices for pre-feeding equal to the number of stages of the synchronous winding machine, these sub-devices being connected by a common mechanical drive to the corresponding drive motor.
 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it is provided with a specific drive motor for each pre-feed sub-device.
 8. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is provided with a specific motor for each stage, for each line of shafts for driving packages and shafts for driving the fliers.
 9. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the packages are mounted on a gripping device controlled by the electronic device and carrying out an application of said packages against the corresponding shafts by means of a pressure cylinder and their diameter being measured by means of a movement detector connected to the electronic circuit.
 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the gripping device is provided in lieu of and in place of the movement detector or in supplement to this detector of a turn counter encoder connected to the electronic circuit.
 11. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the device for pre-feeding yarns is subdivided into a number of sub-devices for pre-feeding equal to the number of stages of the synchronous winding machine, these sub-devices being connected by a common mechanical drive to the corresponding drive motor.
 12. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the device for pre-feeding yarns is subdivided into a number of sub-devices for pre-feeding equal to the number of stages of the synchronous winding machine, these sub-devices being connected by a common mechanical drive to the corresponding drive motor.
 13. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the packages are mounted on a gripping device controlled by the electronic device and carrying out an application of said packages against the corresponding shafts by means of a pressure cylinder and their diameter being measured by means of a movement detector connected to the electronic circuit. 